BBA Challenge: Cinnamon Walnut Raisin Bread

I hummed happily as I made this bread, enjoying how easy the process was. Then I accidentally left the dough for too long during the final rise and my first effort ended in abject failure when not just one, but both loaves fell in the oven. I was crushed, but at least my children ate those bricks as if nothing were wrong. I had a feeling this bread could become a family favorite and the second attempt proved me right on that point: the boys begged for slices with our homemade apple butter. Because I think of this as a homey bread I decided to skip making the swirl design, I just wanted a bread I could mix, rise, shape, and put into the pan without much fuss. I modified the recipe a bit, using 1-1/2 cups of whole wheat flour in place of some of the bread flour, and we liked the flavor and hearty texture.

Thanks as always to Nicole of Pinch My Salt for organizing the BBA Challenge. This week our baking group is buzzing with excitement over the Washington Post article “Too Many Cooks? No Such Thing” which features the BBA Challenge (as well as the Daring Bakers) and quotes Nicole! And if you click on the slideshow in the article you’ll find some of our bread photos, including one of mine.

Thank you for sharing your flops (few though they may be) as well as your winners. It helps some of us behind you in the learning curve to keep from getting too discouraged when it seems everybody else is effortlessly producing perfection every time they step up to the kitchen counter.

Dare I hunt for your apple butter recipe? Suddenly I have a hankering for warm bread with apple butter for some strange reason…..

Everyone keeps swearing by this bread and I could not get it out of my house fast enough because I was bored with it. Of course these types bring back bad flashbacks of horrible fruitcakes that I can’t get over mentally.

Nicely done and the Italian bread which is next was my favorite to date (pizza I know will win the favorite overall).